Reversing valve



3 Sheets-Shea?l l W. F. BORGERD ET AL REVERSING VALVE NNN @@WNN @$1 mow.N .MFM

March l, 1955 Filed July 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 REVERSING VALVE W. F.BORGERD ET AL March 1, 1955 Filed July 14, 1951 .NDUW

March 1, 1955 w, F, BORGERD ET AL 2,703,106

REVERSING VALVE Filed July 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 United StatesPatent O REVERSING VALVE William F. Borgerd, John Calling, and Hugh B.Abbott, Evansville, Ind., assiguors to International Harvester Company,a corporation of New Jersey Application July 14, 1951, Serial No.236,784

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.29)

This invention relates generally to a reversing valve and moreparticularly to a reversing valve which is adaptable for reversing theflow of refrigerant in a refrigeration system.

In a reverse cycle refrigeration system, commonly termed a heat pump,two refrigerant coils are connected to a refrigerant compressor in amanner which allows reversal of the refrigerant llow through the coils.When the refrigerant is flowing in one direction, the first coilfunctions as a refrigerant evaporator whereas the second coil functionsas a refrigerant condenser. Upon reversal of the refrigerant How, therst coil becomes a condenser and the second coil becomes an evaporator.By providing means for passing room air over one of the coils, the heatpump will operate to either heat or cool the air, depending upon thedirection in which the refrigerant is flowing. Since the refrigerationsystem of a heat pump must be reversed many times during the course of ayear because of changing weather conditions, it is desirable to providea reversing valve which can be easily and quickly operated to change thedirection of refrigerant flow.

It is an object of the invention to provide a heat pump having areversing valve that will perform the reversal of the refrigerationsystem so that a particular coil will function as an evaporator duringthe cooling cycle and as a condenser during the heating cycle.

It is another object of the invention to provide the valve with an outercasing having the several sections thereof joined together in sealedrelationship so that refrigerant leakage therefrom is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple portreversing valve having ilexible laminated valve heads.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reversing valve withmeans for deilecting the flexible valve s heads a predetermined amountin order to provide a desired seating force.

Another object of the invention is to provide the reversing valve withnovel means for adjusting the amount of valve head deflection.

Another object is to provide means for preventing rtational movement ofthe valve stem so that a sealing bellows attached thereto will not besubjected to torsional stresses.

Another object is to provide a reversing valve which can be easily andquickly operated and which will give satisfactory operation with aminimum amount of serv- Fiirther objects and advantages of the inventionwill become apparent as the following description proceeds, and thefeatures of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed outin the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a refrigeration system with anenlarged sectional view of the reversing valve showing the parts thereofin the cooling cycle position.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration system with anenlarged sectional view of the reversing valve showing the parts thereofin the heating cycle position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

2,703,106 Patented Mar. l, 1955 lCe Figure 4 is an enlarged sectionalview taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of a valve headbearing against a valve seat.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention,the reference numeral 10 designates generally a reversing valve. Thecasing for the valve comprises cylindrical shaped sections 11, 12 and 13which are positioned end to end and joined together in sealedrelationship. A bearing member 14 is brazed to the inner surface ofsection 12 and dowel pins 15 are secured thereto. Cylindrical shapedsection 11 is provided with counter-bored holes, which t over dowel pins15, and an internally threaded nut 16 which engages a threaded portionof cylindrical section 12 and secures all the parts together. Theopposite end of cylindrical section 12 is provided with an annular rib17 over which the end 18 of the cylindrical section 13 extends with agasket 19 positioned therebetween. End 18 is spun down tightly over therib 17 and the joint is then completely sealed by a sweating operationusing soft solder. The opposite end 20 of cylindrical section 13 fitsover an annular rib 21 provided on bearing plug 23 with a gasket 22positioned therebetween. After end 20 is spun tightly over the rib 21,the joint is completely sealed by sweating with soft solder.

Two guide members 24 and 25 are brazed to diametrically opposed portionsof cylindrical section 11 and side covers 26 and 27 are secured to theguide members by bolts 28 and to a flanged portion 29 of cylindricalsection 11 by bolts 30. A cover plate 31 is secured to the guide membersand side covers by bolts 32 and is provided with a removable threadedplug 33. Slidably mounted between guide members 24 and 25 is asubstantially rectangular shaped carrier member 34 which is of suchWidth that it fits closely between side covers 26 and 27. The carriermember 34 comprises vertical portions 35 and 36 and horizontal portions37 and 38. Fixedly secured to vertical portion 35 is a threaded plug 39having a nut 40 adjustably secured thereon. The outer edge of adjustingnut 4t) is provided with spaced apart recesses or grooves 41 which areadapted to engage an upstanding portion 42 of a spring clip member 43 inorder to hold the nut in a predetermined position. The clip member 43has a central portion 44 which is secured to horizontal portion 37 anddownturned end portions 125 and 126 which t into slots 47 and 48provided in the horizontal portion. Vertical portion 36 has a threadedaperture through which the threaded end 45 of a valve stem 46 extends. Asecond adjusting screw 123 is secured to threaded end 45 with the spacedapart grooves 124, provided around its outer edge, adapted to engage anupturned portion 49 of spring clip member 43.

By referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that side covers 26 and27 are provided with axially aligned apertures 50 and 51 respectively inwhich a shaft 52 is journaled. Aperture 50 is closed by a seal 53whereas aperture 51 is closed and sealed by a mechanical oil seal 54. Alever 55 is ixedly secured to the exterior end 56 of shaft 52 by nut 57and the intermediate portion of the shaft is provided with a cam 58which is adapted to be rotated into engagement with either adjusting nut40 or adjusting nut 123.

Valve stem 46 extends through the valve casing with end 59 journaled inbearing plug 23 and an intermediate portion journaled in bearing member14. Hereinafter, the compartment enclosed by cylindrical section 11 andside covers 26 and 27 will be referred to as the cam compartment 60, andthe compartment enclosed by bearing plug 23, cylindrical sections 12 and13 will be termed the valve compartment 61. A collar 62 is secured tovalve stem 46 by means of a snap ring 63 and silver solder. A bellows 64is attached to collar 62 and bearing member 14 in sealed relationship inorder to seal cam compartment 60 from valve compartment 61. It iscontempiated that cam compartment 60 be filled with lubricating oil andthat vertical portions 35 and 36 of carrier member 34 be provided withdrain holes 65 through which the oil may pass as the carrier member ismoved.

After the threaded end 45 of the valve stem 46 has been screwed intocarrier member 3.4,. shoulder. 66. of. the carrier member 34 is lightlyarc welded to the valve stem. From shoulder 67 toy end 59, the valvestern 46 is of reduced diameter. Referring to Figure l or Figure 2`, itcan be seen that the following parts are inserted. over the reduced.portion of the. valve stem reading from shoulder 67 to end 59: sleeve68, avalve head 69,. washer 70, valve. head 71 sleeve 72,. sealing.washer 73, sleeve 74,. valve head. 75, washer 76, valve head 77, sleeve78, sealing washer 79,. sleeve 80, washer 81, and nut 82, which engagesthreads 83 provided on the valve stem 46 and is tightened` to hold allthe parts on the valve stem 46. The valve heads 69, 71, 75 and 77 arecon;-

structedfrom a plurality of spring steel discs having,

apertures through the: center thereof which: fit4 over the valve stem46. As can be seen inv the drawings, valve heads 75 and 77 are eachprovided.v with approximately one-third as many springsteell discs asvalve heads 69y and 71. Sleeve 68 is brazed. to the adjacentl disc 84 ofvalve head 69, and sleeve. 72 is brazedz tothe first disc 85 of ofcylindrical section 12 provides a seat 93 for valve b heady 69, andsection- 13r is provided with a seat 94 for valve head 71. Valve head.75 seats against seat 95 whichy is provided by section 13, and valvehead 77 seats against seat 96 which is formed by the inner edge ofbearing plug 23. As seen in Figure 5, the edge 97 of the valve head 71'isl formed at anV angle which converges with' the angle of valve seat 94so that the seating presL sure of thevalve headis concentrated on edge98 of outside disc 85. The other valve heads and seats are constructedin the same manner in order to provide the best sealing action betweeneach valve head and its seat.

Nozzle 99 connects lower port 90k to a conduit 100 which joins withconduit 101, andlower port 92 is connected to conduit 101 by nozzle 102.The opposite end ofconduit 100 connects to a coil- 103 which issubmerged in a heat exchange medium 104 within a casing 105'. Lower port91 is connected by nozzle 106 to conduit 107,. the opposite end of whichis connected to a coil 108. A restrictor capillary tube 109 connects thesubmerged coil. 103l and coil 108 so that the iow of refrigeranttherebetween will be properly metered. A motor-compressor unitv 110 hasanV outlet tube 111 connected to upper port 89 by nozzle 112, and asuction tube 113 connected to upper port 88. by nozzle 114. lt

is contemplated that coil 108 be arranged in respect to f an enclosureto be conditionedso that when electric motor 115 is operating,v air fromthe enclosure will. be circulated by fan 116 into contact with. thecoil. Means may be provided for maintaining the. heat exchange medium104 at a temperature between the high side temperature and' the low sidetemperature of the. refrigeration system in order that the coil'103 maybev used as an evaporator or condenser.

When the refrigerationv system is to be operated to cool the airflowing. over coil 108, lever is rotated to the position shown by solidlines in Figure l. The cam 58 is provided with a curved bearing surfacehaving low spots 117. and 118 located at approximately equal radialdistances from the axis 119 of the cam. In Figure l, the cam. is shownwith. low spot- 117 in contact with adjustingnut. 40. This hasmoved-valve stem 46 toward thev cam. 58 until valve head 69 hasinitially contacted valve seat 93 and valve head. '75ihas initiallycontacted valve seat 95.. In a. practical design of the valve, it hasbeen found. that by! rotatingthe lever 55 approximately 19 after valveheads 69 andv 75.l have first contacted their valve seatV toV the:dotted` line. position of Figure l, the cam 58: moves the valve. stemslightly to the left so that the spring steel discsof thevalve heads aredeflected approximately .020". This bends theexible valve heads andproduces a: total sealing pressure of 1500 lbs. betweenvalve head69'andlvalve-seat. 93 and a sealing pressure ofl 500 lbs. between valvehead 75 and valve seat 95s By providing suitable controls (not shown) toregulate the operation of the refrigeration system the air to bevconditioned will be maintained within the comfort range. When therefrigeration system is operating on the cooling cycle, the ow ofrefrigerant will be as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. Compressedrefrigerant from the motor-compressor unit 110 is forwarded throughoutlet tube 111 to the valve 10 through which it passes by way of uppervalve port.` 89, valve seat 96l and lower valve port 92. It is thenconducted by the conduits 101 and toA submerged coil 103 where it iscooled and con'- densed by heat exchange medium 104. From coil 103 therefrigerant passes through Capillary' restrictor tube 109, where it willchange fromthe high side pressure to the low side pressure; intocoil108. After absorbing heat from the air being passed into contact withcoil 108, the refrigerant is returned to the motor-compressor unitthrough conduit 107, lower valve port 91, valve seat 94,. upper valveport 88, and suction tube 113. This completes the. refrigeration coolingcycle during which time coil 108 functions as an evaporator and coolsthe air being passed thereover. In a typical refrigeration system, thedifference between the high. side pressure. and low side pressure willaverage approximately 500 lbs. The difference in these pressures willtend to open valve. head 69,4 and since the pressure exerted by thesteel discs of thev valve headV is approximately 1500 lbs., a netseating force of 1000.1bs. will be acting to close the valve head.. Thedifference in the refrigerant pressures on valve headv 75l will betending to close the valve head, and by combining this pressure with thepressure exertedl by the.

steel discs of the valve head, a net seating force ofv 1000 lbs. will beacting to close this valve head. Thus, the net seating force of thevalve heads 69 and 75 will be. equalh ized and a tight seal will be.produced between the valvc heads and their respective valve seats.

The refrigeration system can be quickly reversed by rotating lever 55clockwise to the position shown in Figure 2. The valve heads 71 and 77are brought into initial contact with valve seats 94 and 96 respectivelywhen low point 118 of cam 58 is contacting adjusting nut 123. as shownby the solid lines in Figure 2. By rotating the lever approximately 19to the dotted. line position, the. valve heads are moved approximately.020 ofv an inch by cam 58. This deflection produces 1500 lbs. ofpressure between valve head 71 and seat 94, and SOOlbs. of pressurebetween valve head 77 and seat 96. Upon operation ofthe motor-compressorunit 110 the ow of refrigerant will be as indicated by the arrows inFigure 2. The compressed refrigerant is passed to coil 108 by outlettube 111, upper valve port 89, valve seat 95, lower valve port 91, andconduit 107. The high pressure refrigerant will bercooled and. condensedby the air being passedl into Contact with coil108 and then transferredthrough capillary restrictor tube 109 where it will be metered to a lowside pressure. It is then evaporated by absorbing heat fromheat exchangemedium 104 as it passesthrough coil 103 and return to motor-compressorunit 110 through conduit 100, valve port 90, valve seat 93, upper valveport 88 and suction tube 113. As is apparent, coil 108 now functions asa condenser so that the air being passed thereover. by fan 116 will beheated. The total dilerence between the high side pressure and low sidepressure acting on valve head 71 will be approximately 500 lbs., andthis difference will tend to open valve head 71,l thus reducing the 1500lbs. of sealing pressure exertedv by the valve head to 1000 lbs. The 500lbs. difference in refrigerant pressures will be acting to close valvehead 77 so that a. net seatingforce of 1000 lbs. will be exertedbetweenthe valve head and valve seat 96.

Side cover 26 is provided with pipe plugs 121 and 122 which may beremoved to provide access into cam compartment 60 for adjustment of nuts40 and 123. Spring clip 43 will prevent the nuts 40 and 123 fromrotating, and by proper adjustment of the nuts, it is possible toaccurately maintain the desired deflection of the valve heads. I-ipeplug 33 may be removed in order to till earn compartment 60 withlubricating eil. The carrier member 34 fits closely between side covers26 and 27 so that' there will be no rotational movement of valve stem 46which will prevent torsional stress of the bellows 64. Since the bellowswill probably be constructed from metal, it is important that it is notsubjected to torsional stresses'in order to prevent damage thereto..

From the foregoing it is apparent that a reversingvalve is providedwhich will perform the reversing of a refrigeration system. It is aruggedly constructed valve which will give many years of service. Thelaminated valve heads will produce a tight seal against the valve seatsand prevent any leakage thereby. Any minor adjustments to the valve canbe easily made without disconnecting the valve from the refrigerationsystem.

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to beunderstood that the description is for the purpose of illustration onlyand is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right isreserved to make such changes in the details of construction andarrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attachedclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having acam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stern positioned insaid valve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment;a sealing bellows positioned between said compartments with one endsecured to said casing in sealed relationship and the other end securedto said valve stem in sealed relationship; a rectangularly shapedcarrier member having an opening therethrough positioned in said camcompartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valve stem; thewalls of the cam compartment formed to permit a sliding movement of saidcarrier member longitudinally of said valve but preventing rotationalmovement thereof so that said bellows will not be subjected to torsionalstresses; cam means positioned in said opening in said carrier memberand operating against the walls of said opening for imparting a slidingreciprocating movement to said carrier member.

2. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system: a casing having acam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in saidvalve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; arectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening therethroughpositioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end ofsaid valve stem; spaced apart nuts adjustably secured within saidopening of said carrier; a cam positioned between said nuts which isadapted to be rotated to selectively engage said nuts in order to movethe carrier member in a desired direction.

3. In a reversing valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having acam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in saidvalve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; asealing bellows positioned between said compartments with one endsecured to said valve stem in sealed relationship; a rectangularlyshaped carrier member having an opening formed therethrough positionedin said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end of said valvestem; the walls of said cam compartment formed to provide guide meansoperating against the sides of said carrier member for preventingrotation of said carrier member so that said bellows will not besubjected to torsional stresses and for permitting a sliding movement ofsaid carrier member longitudinally of said valve stem; spaced apart nutsadjustably secured within said opening through said carrier; a campositioned between said nuts which is adapted to be rotated toselectively engage said nuts in order to impart a sliding reciprocalmovement to the carrier member.

4. In a reversing Valve for a refrigeration system; a casing having acam compartment and a valve compartment; a valve stem positioned in saidvalve compartment with one end extending into said cam compartment; arectangularly shaped carrier member having an opening therethroughpositioned in said cam compartment and being xedly secured to the end ofsaid valve stem; said opening being formed to have spaced apart verticalportions each of which has a nut adjustably secured thereto; a campositioned between said nuts which is adapted to be rotated toselectively engage said nuts in order to impart a sliding reciprocalmovement to the carrier mernber; a clip member for holding said nuts inadjusted position.

5. In a heat pump system, a valve structure comprising a valve casinghaving ive ports positioned therein, a rst valve seat positioned withinsaid casing between the first and third of said ports, a second valveseat positioned within said casing between said rst port and the fourthof said ports, a third valve seat positioned within said casing betweenthe second of said ports and said fourth port, a fourth valve seatpositioned with said casing between said second port and the fifth ofsaid ports, a valve stem slidably positioned within said casing, fourvalve heads mounted upon said valve stem, so that when said valve stemis moved to one position said first and third valve heads engage saidfirst and third valve seats respectively and when said Valve stem ismoved to another position said second and fourth valve heads engage saidsecond and fourth valve seats respectively, said first and second valveheads comprising a greater number of resilient discs than said third andfourth valve heads so that when said valve heads are seated against saidvalve seats the yieldability of said first and second valve heads topressure diterentials establishable between said third and fourth portsis substantially less than the yieldability of said third and fourthvalve heads to pressure diiferentials establishable between said fourthand fth ports, whereby said valve structure is connectable in a heatpump system having varied pressures.

6. In a valve structure having a valve stem, cam and lever means forselectively moving said valve stem, said cam and lever means comprisinga cam compartment mounted on said valve structure, said cam compartmenthaving two parallel sides, a rectangularly shaped member having arectangular opening therethrough slidably mounted in said camcompartment between said parallel sides, said member connected to saidvalve stem whereby said valve stem follows the movement of said member,a pair of members mounted in a spaced apart relation within therectangular opening through said rst member, means for selectivelyadjusting and maintaining the distance between said members, a leverrotatively mounted on said cam compartment, a cam mounted on said leverand projecting between said pair of members so that as said lever isrotated said cam cooperates with said pair of members to cause amovement of said valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS121,487 Burnett Dec. 5, 1871 350,881 Graham Oct. 12, 1886 862,867Eggleston Aug. 6, 1907 1,091,210 Gauntt Mar. 24, 1914 1,371,575 RousseauMar. 15, 1921 1,575,771 King Mar. 9, 1926 1,609,340 Wilson Dec. 7, 19261,921,092 Newton Aug. 8, 1933 1,934,314 Lawler Nov. 7, 1933 2,351,140McCloy June 13, 1944 2,407,794 Mufy Sept. 17, 1946 2,525,560 Pabst Oct.10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,941 France 1920 578,490 Germany 1933

